In Winnipeg, Nino Niederreiter hit for a double on Saturday afternoon ni a 4-2 win over the visiting Minnesota Wild. 
“We know we have to play that style of hockey, and that’s how I feel we play best,” Niederreiter said. “Coming out of the gates, we want to make sure we get pucks in deep and outwork them, but at the same time, we did a lot of good things and tried to help get our team get that win.”
Connor Hellebuyck made 34 saves in the win.
The Jets improved to 21-9-4.
“We talk a lot about timely saves and timely goals. We got both today,” Winnipeg coach Rick Bowness said. “[Hellebuyck] made a lot of timely saves, and that timely goal, the fourth, was huge for us.
“Our 5-on-5 game has really been good all year. Regardless who we play, that’s how we play. … That grinding style is how we’re going to play our 5-on-5 game.”
The Jets broke out to a 1-0 lead on a strike by Alex Iafallo at 3:59 of the opening stanza.
Niederreiter then hit for his double, first scoring at 14:38 of the first to extend the lead to 2-0.
“I think that’s where my office is. I like to be in the paint,” Niederreiter said. “I try to get in there as good as possible. It’s always going to create chances.”
Niederreiter’s double came in the middle frame at 6:45 for ma 3-0 advantage to the Jets.
“I do try to get, especially in early afternoon games, you want to get yourself involved early and get physical, and try to get a shot off right away and get into the game that way,” Niederreiter said.
Ryan Hartman and Matt Boldy were the Wild strikers.
The Wild dropped to 16-14-4.
“We fell back at times, but we weren’t at our best tonight,” Minnesota coach John Hynes said. “When you come into a series, we’re going to have to bring our best to win. Tonight I thought there were times where we had it, but we didn’t have it like we normally do, and that’s our objective tomorrow.”
Hartman trimmed the deficit to 3-1 off a power play marker midway through the second period.
“He’s coming on in his game and obviously the points are important for him,” Hynes said. “He is a point-producing player, and it’s nice to see him play in a style of game that gives him a chance to be able to do that more regularly. … I think his game is building and he’s getting rewarded on the score sheet.”
Boldy pulled the Wild within one, at 3-2, with 20 seconds gone in the third period.
Axel Jonsson-Fjallby reclaimed the two-goal lead for the Jets when he struck at 2:46 for the 4-2 final count.
Filip Gustavsson got the start for the Wild, he made made 19 saves before leaving the game in the second intermission with an apparent injury.
Marc-Andre Fleury made nine saves in the third period.
It was Fleury’s 999th NHL game.
He is expected to start in St Paul on Sunday against the Jets.
“I’m looking forward to it and be over with it,” Fleury said. “It’s been talked about a bunch, so it will be good. It’s pretty cool to get there, right? But it will be nice to be done with it.
“I think we all agree that it wasn’t our best night tonight. The good thing about it is we can forget about it, and we can play a little bit more like we can.”
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